Once I Was Very Very Scared

This is far and away the best children's book on trauma that I have ever seen. As a therapist working with children who experienced chronic trauma and loss in the first years of life, I love the way Chandra Ghosh Ippen's book makes room for all kinds of traumatic experiences, remembered and unremembered, one-time or chronic. The representation of the dissociative response resonates with the kids I work with, as does the character who claims not to be afraid. There's even a character who doesn't want to talk about it, which gets kids talking who ordinarily refuse. In the first day I used this book in sessions, two kids who had never sat through an entire book before were completely engaged and present, identified their own typical reactions, and could think about things that might help them feel calmer. Erich Ippen's illustrations bring the story to life and help children feel safe enough to talk about their own experiences and feelings. Highly recommended for therapists, parents, teachers, OTs, and anyone working with childhood trauma. Although it looks like a little kids' book and is certainly appropriate for very young children, I've witnessed older elementary school kids engage deeply with it.

It's a shame; this is a book filled with good ideas and great pictures, but it's too long and confusing for younger kids (Kindergarten - 2.) It was confusing for me. We see eight animals in a circle telling the things that scared them and how they dealt with them in their own ways. Some animals won't talk about what made them scared, some pretend they've never been scared, and the poor skunk says he can't help it that he sprays (instinctively) when he's scared. A new animal, a porcupine (aka a counselor) arrives and suggests ways to deal with fears. So the premise of the book is good and the animal reactions are humorous, but it's too long (64 pages) and it quickly becomes confusing to try to remember what problem each animal had. And, because there are so many animals, it's not a book that can be easily shared by a group. Again, the ideas are great and cover a range of issues; just not an effective vehicle.

I read this to my daughter, who is five and two years safe from domestic abuse - her father treated her as acceptable collateral damage, which finally woke me up enough to leave - and she started crying about halfway through this, and said she didn't like it - but I finished the book and she listened and watched the whole story. I think this may be very cathartic for her, and affirming! It's okay to feel sad or mad or bad, but how do we help ourselves feel better? Highly recommend for young children who have experienced trauma.

Our foster childrens therapist recommended this for our 5 years olds who are suffering with trauma. I like the illustrations and there are a lot of different characters they can relate to but the story is far too long and there is a lot of necessary explaining. What is the most confusing though is that there is this random story about dogs sewn into the middle of the story. I do not like this at all.

Dr. Ghosh Ippen writes a masterful piece that takes children from the moment of disclosure, through processing and working through and resolution of trauma. She skillfully integrates the cutting edge work of luminaries such as Alicia Lieberman and Bessel van der Kolk into a tale that can be read to toddlers through latency age children. The illustrations are beautiful and she does a wonderful job of helping children (and their caregivers) understand the myriad of ways we respond to trauma (e.g. Elephant doesn't want to talk, rabbit is hyperactive, dog acts out). This is by far the best book I have found to help children talk about trauma they have been exposed to. I also like that it is not trauma-specific so can be used for a range of events that the child may have been exposed to. I am a therapist and this book will be my new go-to but it can be used equally well in a school setting and with my own children.

This book does a great job of illustrating a variety of unhealthy means of coping and then healthiq means of coping. However a mentor / counseling type person shows up out of the blue and starts giving advice. This confusion is distracting just at a time when the child needs to be listening. I will still use this book in my therapy practice but I do have to paraphrase these sections. If this book could be edited it would be much better. It's still worth buying

I think the premise behind this book was great, but it's so long that it doesn't make sense for me to use with my clients. Most of the little ones I would read this book through won't sit for the whole thing. I tried reading it with my own 6 year old and he got bored halfway thru. It's great that it normalizes all the different ways fear manifests, I just wish it was shorter.

We use this book often in our clinic for children who experience trauma. It does a nice job describing different ways kids experience trauma.

I bought this book for my daughters, 6 and 4.5. My husband and I are in the process of a divorce. I wanted to find a nice story that could give my daughters the vocabulary to talk to me about their feelings. This book is sensitive, respectful and allows all of the feelings. I love the way the animals discuss how they have an underlying emotion but that angry is the emotion that gets out. Lovely way to teach kids about emotions - especially the “bad” ones.

This book discusses the reactions we have when we get really scared and how it is important to talk about the things that that happened with those we trust. it also talks about the different ways that we react to trauma and fear. I got this book from my 5 year old and she asks to read it often and asks me questions about the characters in the book.

Lovely figures, great explanations! I love it! Should be in every kindergarten and school! Both for the kids and parents and therapeuts and caretakers of any kind! Please read!! I've read lots of books about feelings and how to explain to children and even grown ups - this is the best one!

Well written and ideal to help my son understand his depression and ptsd (he’s 8)

Great book for kids who have gone through unexpected hard times